RAFALE'S MINI ENCYLOPEDIA FOR IT'S FANBOYZ

[sancho]

Does no one else wonder why the IAF Rafales will be delivered with HMDS (TOPSIGHT/TOP-OWL I hear) but the FrAF don't use a HMDS on their Rafales?

First of all, it's not clear if they will have Topsight, because no HMS was fully integrated so far in the Rafale (they have integrated more important stuff instead), except of an early prototype of Topsight. Afaik French airforce is interested in HMS, while French navy isn't because of the weight during catapult take offs and landings or so.
However, the French had decided to go for an HMS from Sagem earlier, while the Topsight will be produced in India via Samtel and is already in service with Mig 29Ks and most likely will be chosen for Mirage 2000 upg as well, which makes it interesting to see, which HMS the French will offer us for Rafale.

 

[Abingdonboy]

First of all, it's not clear if they will have Topsight, because no HMS was fully integrated so far in the Rafale (they have integrated more important stuff instead), except of an early prototype of Topsight. Afaik French airforce is interested in HMS, while French navy isn't because of the weight during catapult take offs and landings or so.
However, the French had decided to go for an HMS from Sagem earlier, while the Topsight will be produced in India via Samtel and is already in service with Mig 29Ks and most likely will be chosen for Mirage 2000 upg as well, which makes it interesting to see, which HMS the French will offer us for Rafale.

I had heard it was a given it would be the TOPSIGHT HMDS for the Rafale for IAF given it is in use with the IAF MIG-29UPG and IN MIG-29Ks and will probobly be used on the IAF M2K-UPGs. An interesting Q is why the LCA program seems to have gone with the DASH HMDS in light of all the others getting the TOPSIGHT/TOPOWL-F. Afterall wasn't a HMDS a requirement in the MMRCA RFP?


+ do you know if it is the TOPSIGHT or TOP-OWL in use with India because this document makes out it is the TOPOWL-F:

http://www.thalesgroup.com/Portfolio/Documents/Defence_TopOwl-F/

It's confusing because I thought the TOPOWL was exclusiviley for helos.

 

[sancho]

An interesting Q is why the LCA program seems to have gone with the DASH HMDS in light of all the others getting the TOPSIGHT/TOPOWL-F. Afterall wasn't a HMDS a requirement in the MMRCA RFP?

The decisions for LCA were taken long ago and way earlier than Topsight was available in India. HMS was a requirement and is offered with Rafale, but we don't know which one was offered and how much we pay for the integration.

do you know if it is the TOPSIGHT or TOP-OWL in use with India because this document makes out it is the TOPOWL-F:

It's Topsight, there were some changes in the designations, even our version first was called Topsight I and today Divy Drishti:


SDS::Leading Manufacturer of DisplaySystems,CAT,MFD,HUD,HMD,ATE&IADS in India

 

[sancho]

Qatar set to replace its Mirage 2000-5 with Rafale ?

According to La Tribune today, Rafale would be well positionned if required, because :

Qatar has given its word to replace its Mirage with Rafale ;
Rafale has been very successful during the hot weather trials (50°C) conducted earlier (with live AASM firing and Qatar pilots in the back seat), contrary to F-15 and F-18...

Rafale News: Qatar set to replace its Mirage 2000-5 with Rafale ?

Damocles XF dropped, PDL NG for 2018

Air & Cosmos N°2305 gave us two pages about the future of designation pods for Rafale.

First of all, Damocles XF (and improved Damocles with a TV channel) is dropped.

Then, it's all about the PDL NG (Pod de Désignation Laser Nouvelle Génération = New Generation Laser Designation Pod)...

Rafale News: Damocles XF dropped, PDL NG for 2018


It seems that the UAE deal not going to happen anytime soon (just as the Brazilian) and that the Qataris now could be the 2nd buyer for Rafale after India. If they decide to go for Rafale with a fast replacement, their M2K-5s could become interesting for IAF again.
Also interesting is the news that the Damocles XF is cancelled, which was meant to be an improved version of the current pod. That means till 2018 when the PDL NG comes out, the French can't offer us something comparable to Litening capabilities, so integrating the Israeli pod into Rafale should be certain now.

 

[Abingdonboy]

^^ Since India's selection the Rafale is suddenly in high demand!

 

[sancho]

^^ Since India's selection the Rafale is suddenly in high demand!

I think it has more to do with the performance of Rafale in Afghanistan and Libya, because most competitions already showed that it was one of the best modern fighter, but the high costs made them reject it. With the excellent performance in Libya (and the Qataries saw it from close distance), people starts understanding that it's more than worth it.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I think it has more to do with the performance of Rafale in Afghanistan and Libya, because most competitions already showed that it was one of the best modern fighter, but the high costs made them reject it. With the excellent performance in Libya (and the Qataries saw it from close distance), people starts understanding that it's more than worth it.

It has to be said the outcome of the MMRCA has made the Rafale more attractive to the international market. The 126+ order will ensure future upgrades and, to some extent, the continuation of the Rafale production line (but given only the first SQD will be made in France this is not that significant). Not to mention emboldening Dassualt to persue more export orders.

 

[Gessler]

And Ive heard ALGERIA is also looking to buy Rafale along with Mirage-2000 ...?

 

[Abingdonboy]

And Ive heard ALGERIA is also looking to buy Rafale along with Mirage-2000 ...?

I don't know how credible this news is:

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[sancho]

It has to be said the outcome of the MMRCA has made the Rafale more attractive to the international market. The 126+ order will ensure future upgrades and, to some extent, the continuation of the Rafale production line (but given only the first SQD will be made in France this is not that significant). Not to mention emboldening Dassualt to persue more export orders.

Of course it has it part to, especially with regard to cost reduction and Dassault already seems to offer Swiss reduced prices with our decision. But since Libya, the fighter simply has proven it's capabilities and that in direct comparision to neally all comparable fighters (F15, F16, F18, EF, not to mention Mirage 2000s and Tornados). It simply impressed how much more capable the Rafale was and even EF favourable media or fanboys had to admit that. That was a real game changer wrt to it's export potential, however only for those countries that can afford it (India, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, possibly Malaysia, while Brazil and Swiss can't at the moment).

And Ive heard ALGERIA is also looking to buy Rafale along with Mirage-2000 ...?

Yeah, read that too. Countries like Algeria, Libya and even Egypt will modernise their military now and France might get a chance there too, but it seems that these countries might get Qatari or UAE Mirage 2000s first, with Rafale as a mid to long term option.

 

[arp2041]

It has to be said the outcome of the MMRCA has made the Rafale more attractive to the international market. The 126+ order will ensure future upgrades and, to some extent, the continuation of the Rafale production line (but given only the first SQD will be made in France this is not that significant). Not to mention emboldening Dassualt to persue more export orders.

I was thinking about it, could this be a great opportunity for India, assuming that the Rafale production line in France gets shut (in few years time), but since they have to transfer the production line to HAL, can there be probability of future export of Rafale from India???

 

[sancho]

I was thinking about it, could this be a great opportunity for India, assuming that the Rafale production line in France gets shut (in few years time), but since they have to transfer the production line to HAL, can there be probability of future export of Rafale from India???

The productionline in France won't be closed, the expected orders for French forces alone will be enough for productions beyond 2020, but we will produce parts for export fighters as well. Brazil got a similar offer in their competion, since they want a licence production as well.

 

[arp2041]

The productionline in France won't be closed, the expected orders for French forces alone will be enough for productions beyond 2020, but we will produce parts for export fighters as well. Brazil got a similar offer in their competion, since they want a licence production as well.

But sancho, we cannot compare the Indian order with that of Brazilian one, i m pretty sure that the IAF will go for 250 Rafales & the production line of Rafale in India will be easily running till 2025-27, while Brazilian order is much smaller than this.

 

[sancho]

But sancho, we cannot compare the Indian order with that of Brazilian one, i m pretty sure that the IAF will go for 250 Rafales & the production line of Rafale in India will be easily running till 2025-27, while Brazilian order is much smaller than this.

We don't have to, the French will know why they offer the Brazilians a production line (number might go up to 100 for air force and navy, additional orders of tankers, subs and even carriers...).

 

[DrSomnath999]

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